UW Bioengineering graduate student Rachel Iritani has been awarded the 2025 Center for Neurotechnology Best Student Paper Award for Neurotechnology Advancement. Established in 2020 by Joseph and Anusha Fernando, this award recognizes research that makes significant contributions to neurotechnology and human-machine interaction.
Titled A Neural Implant Design Toolbox for Nonhuman Primates, Rachel’s paper was published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE). It introduces a fully virtual, cost-efficient method for designing brain and skull models and creating custom implants for neurosurgical planning in nonhuman primates, helping to reduce surgical and experimental complications.
“Rachel’s paper was selected based on its significance and potential impact, its technical content, the originality of the proposed approach, and the clarity of the solutions she presented,” said Eric Chudler, UW Bioengineering professor and CNT executive director/education director.
Rachel conducted her research in the Yazdan Lab, which focuses on developing stimulation-based therapies to restore function and mobility in individuals with neurological disorders.